Did you know studies show people who cook and eat at home together have better nutrition?
At home, you can use vegetables from the local farmer’s market, limit the amount of salt you add to freshly cooked dishes, and choose healthy oils to roast your vegetables.
At a restaurant it’s easy to overeat, where portion sizes are typically larger than what the average person needs. It can be hard to listen to your hunger cues with the distractions in a restaurant!
In terms of eating at home, the answer to “what to eat” also makes a difference; frozen meals and ultra-processed ingredients like chicken nuggets or frozen French fries don’t provide the same benefits as cooking from scratch.
BUT cooking at home doesn’t have to mean complex, gourmet meals; even easy, 30-minute recipes like my favorite Lemon Pesto Penne with Broccoli & Bursted Cherry Tomatoes is a great place to start (get the recipe here:
If you would like to start having dinner as a family more often in the new year, you can make it happen!
Here’s the secret to success: when you have a million activities scheduled in your week, you HAVE to start with a plan.
Rather than trying to fit your family meals into a rigid plan, you need to start with YOUR schedule and find a rhythm that works for you.
My easy 3-step meal planning process with template provided will show you how:
You can claim these benefits of dinner at the table for YOUR family. You can get started right now! It’s okay if it takes time or if it’s a bit uncomfortable. Simply taking the first step is key.
Happy family dinner,
Dietitian Ann
Read more about the Benefits of having Dinner as a Family:
Download the FREE Meal Planning Template:
Want to make mealtime easier for your busy family? Check out these free resources!
Free trial of the Peas & Hoppy Meal Guides:
7 Easy Vegetarian Substitutes:
Meat Temperature Cooking Guide:
Seasonal Vegetable Guide:
More Free Meal Planning Resources:
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